Please help me focus

This is my first post to POTN, I am so confused and need help and advice.

I recently photographed a friend of mines daughter at home. Using 2 lights, one a flashlight and umbrella and one flashlight with small softbox. My focus seems to be out on all but a few of my photographs. Do I need a different lens, or do I need to practise more with my manual settings etc.

I used pattern metering and other settings were f/5.6 1/25 ISO 200 and focal length 85mm. I always use centre AF. Is the solution down to settings or equipment.

The lens used is a canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM I intend to purchase a new lens shortly and would like opinions on the most suitable for indoor portraits with studio lighting, mainly children, my budget is £1200 at the highest.

Thank you for you patience and all CC's are welcome

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Looks like you focused on her headband, but it's not too bad. A little sharpening in PS would save it, I think. Also, 1/25th is way too slow a shutter speed for this. Bump your ISO up, or add more light to get around 1/100th.

Thank you I will concentrate focusing on the eyes, and watch my shutter speed, anyone any thoughts on my next lens??

id say shoot faster shutter speed and for your next lens, 50mm f1.8!! its a fun, cheap lens and will give u some nice shots.

howzitboy wrote in post #11113518
id say shoot faster shutter speed and for your next lens, 50mm f1.8!! its a fun, cheap lens and will give u some nice shots.

what about the 50 f/1.4 ? seen some great work with this one, or is this not necessary in a studio setting?

I use the 50mm 1.4 almost exclusively on my 40D and really love the results. If you look on my gallery link below, most of my work is done with this kit. For indoor portrait work though (working in family's homes, etc) I'm finding I can't quite back up far enough, and am considering a Sigma 30mm 1.4 lens that would give just as great results and let me "back up" a little more.

There are lens photo examples if you do a search function on the forum for a particular lens.

Shutter speed caused the soft focus... 1/25 even if you used a tripod is too slow and your subject had to have moved slightly.

prob on my next lens list is the 50 f1.4!! im having fun playing with the f1.8 still..

I am not sure if it is my monitor but the image looks undexposed. I love the kid's expression(The innocence in her eyes) but the head band is the ones in focus. I'd be using 50mm or 85mm on this pose and just a basic loop lighting will do just 30 degrees in height to avoid lighting too much of the forehead.

When shooting children you should get down on their level. Dont take shots looking down on them. Bring the lights closer, and set your focus points at her eyes. A faster shutter speed will also help with the focus, but keep in mind your images will be darker with a faster shutter. Bump the ISO to 400 to help with that. Dont want to go any higher with the lighting you are using as I already see a little noise on her arms. So in short, closer light, faster shutter, higher ISO, and get down!!

50mm is a good choice. but since you are new to photography dont go hay wire with lenses, its not the lens that will make a good image, its the photographer. Master that 50mm and when you find out what you limitations are with the 50, you will be ready for your next lens.

the 50 can get sharper but you just need a slightly faster shutter speed.

Thank you to all for the advice, I will be putting these to use at the weekend, hopefully I will see an improvement looking into the 50mm for my next lens

So have gotten some good advice but this shot is still very usable with a bit of PP.

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